Mazda 3MPS -240BHP

Vanilla · 28 Feb 2006 at 15:01

Great Spec and manufacturer....but i do agree with the fugly comments.

bingham67 · 28 Feb 2006 at 15:08

Looks ok but 3 door for me

t_aitch · 28 Feb 2006 at 15:22

Have mazda even got a 3door mazda 3?

Dont think ive ever seen one.

L0rdMike · 28 Feb 2006 at 15:24

Oracle said:
Old and boring comment now tbh! No dig at you, but yes, 10-15 years ago, this was a lot to put through the front wheels. Its just not really an issue anymore for a daily driver. Obviously round the track may be different, but even then, it will be anchored in by TC

If it was a NA engine it wouldnt be so bad. The torque from the turbo will have the tc cutting in all the time in the slightest damp conditions I would imagine.

willd58 · 28 Feb 2006 at 16:05

The exterior doesnt look agressive/chav enough for me to think of it as a genuine hot hatch in that department.

Firestar_3x · 28 Feb 2006 at 16:07

willd58 said:
The exterior doesnt look agressive/chav enough for me to think of it as a genuine hot hatch in that department.

Hang on a second, so the fact it doesn't look like a super chav motor is a bad thing?

Axeboy · 28 Feb 2006 at 16:10

I like it.

Still prefer a 6 MPS tho'

t_aitch · 28 Feb 2006 at 18:50

I think the mazda 6 mps looks too "american" like, i think im on my own there though.

clv101 · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:06

Mr_Sukebe said:
I can't say I agree.
I've driven the CTR, ATR, Cupra R etc, and feel that all of them suffer from a degree of both torque steer and numbness to feel as a result of quelling the rest of the torque steer that would have affected a fwd car a decade back.
If you don't believe me, try the CTR, closely followed by a 1 series BM. You might find the BM vastly overpriced and pig ugly (both of which are true), but it's steering is sublime when compared to fast fwd hatches.

I can vouch of that having driven the 120d and my Fabia, the BMW is much better at putting the power down coming out of corners. It's the only rear wheel drive I've driven but it was very different (better) when driven quickly around corners.

willd58 · 3 Mar 2006 at 19:09

Firestar_3x said:
Hang on a second, so the fact it doesn't look like a super chav motor is a bad thing?

Yea, it doesnt look like itll stand out enough against the normal mazda. You can tell instantly a CTR/ST170/ST/RS etc etc from the normal models.

wassap · 3 Mar 2006 at 21:04

Hmm not eaxactly a looker is it, much prefer the new ctr or fst, the side and front make the car look like a bigger citroen C2! basically ugly.

Is it using the same 5 pot as the focus? cos that is a peach of an engine.

Also i agree with Mr Sukebe, most FWD motor with 180+ bhp struggle with torque steer, it seems the new golf gti and leon tfsi try and counteract this with utterly numb poxy electric steering,the FST aint much better, but better it is.

Scuzi · 3 Mar 2006 at 21:14

IMO the 3 saloon with the body kit and whatnot looks a hell of a lot better than the hatch. If they did a saloon version it would be a car I would seriously consider.

I also agree about FWD's with a good bit of power. The only thing that I don't like about my car is the lack of feel and precision in the steering, caused mainly because the steering system has been designed to cancel out torque steer and improve traction. Torque steer isn't a huge problem but it's there, and I can imagine it will be even more evident on the 3 which has 60bhp more.

wassap · 3 Mar 2006 at 21:20

Yeah a lad at work has a sporty looking 3 saloon and it does look very nice for a small saloon (which normally look poo)

Siliconslave · 3 Mar 2006 at 23:56

its all about the Kabura TBH

MrMoon · 4 Mar 2006 at 07:43

my mazda 3 sport is coming in 2 weeks and then they announce this

Trickle · 4 Mar 2006 at 08:21

Siliconslave said:
its all about the Kabura TBH

Dont like the idea of 3 people up front. Hope they have a more powerful engine than the 2.0 that they mention in the article.

Also, all this talk of youth buyers, then they go on to say:

recent survey performed by a major research organization, Mazda 's new-car customers are the second youngest in North America, at only 41 years of age.

Bear · 4 Mar 2006 at 09:18

Whats the betting that all the 100 year olds buy Hondas

Siliconslave · 4 Mar 2006 at 11:15

Trickle said:
Dont like the idea of 3 people up front. Hope they have a more powerful engine than the 2.0 that they mention in the article.

Also, all this talk of youth buyers, then they go on to say:

tbh the 3 people is proberbly just a concept gimic, and i know what you mean about the engine, although from the sounds of it its all about the handeling, based off the mx-5 platform and all that so should be great to drive, and if its the same lump as the 5 theres already a super charger avabile to take it up passed 220bhp.

i guess the youth buyer things down to the age of people who buy new, afaik in america theres no MOT equiverlant so old cars hold their value allot better, well old bangers atleast

Arc · 4 Mar 2006 at 12:10

Same as the Mazda 6 really, good performance but it looks plain.

The 6 is trying to blend in and be a fast "executive" car according to Mazda so thats understandable but the 3 should have a bit more, well imagination put into it. Put it this way, if Mazda can come up with the rather unique RX8 then they could have at least put a bit of effort into the looks of the 3.

rlm · 4 Mar 2006 at 14:36

Trickle said:
Dont like the idea of 3 people up front. Hope they have a more powerful engine than the 2.0 that they mention in the article.

Also, all this talk of youth buyers, then they go on to say:

I think the point there is that not many 'young' people can afford new cars, so from that point of view maybe that age is young for new car buyers.